Fire-escape



'2 Ysheets-sheet 2.

VJ. STBINWENDER.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patentedlebqw, 1884.

UNITED STATES Pniinar OFFICE.

JOHAN STEINWENDEB, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,680, dated February 19, 1884.

Application filed October 19, 1883. (No model.)

T a/ZZ whoml t may concern Be it known that I, JOHAN STEINWENDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State invention.

`Figure l'represents the fire-escape with stationary flexible ladders. Fig. 2represents a transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 represents the fire-escape when lowered and ready for transportation on a truck. Fig. 4 shows revolving ladder held by hooks on a windowsill. l Fig. 5 represents baskets suspendedV from the corniceof a building, to be raised and lowered.

In Fig. 1, the standards A A are pieces of squared timber, laterally held by cross-pieces a a at the top and bottom. Between the standards are three pieces, 1 2 3, of the same width and thickness with the standards, sliding in grooves up and down. The standards and pieces 1l 2 3 are of the same length.4 The pieces 1 and 3 are fastened together at top and bottom bycross-pieces b and c, leaving the piece 2 between them free to moveindependently of the others.4 At the upper crosspiece, a', are three pulleys, d ef, one of them v over each center of the pieces 1 2 3, and on On the lower end of the piece 2'is another the cross-piece b are hooks or rings.. for the fastening-ropes g g', by which to raise them.

hook or ring for attaching the third rope, g, by which this piece 2 is raised independently.

These ropes pass over the pulleys d e f, whence they extend down to a drum, G, divided into three parts, d' e j ournaled on the lower parts of the'standards A A and turned by a crank, C. The diameter of the part e. of the drum, over which the rope g is turned, is greater than that of the others, so as to take up more vrope at a revolution than the parts d and f f *that when, by turning the crank C, the pieces 1 2 3 are raised together by the ropes, the piece 2 rises in a given time twice the distance of the others, and all arrive simultaneously-at their full height, the piece 2 standing nearly its own length. above the others. To the upper endof the piece 2' is suitably fastened the socket of a pronged hook, B, to which is crosswise attached a bar, D. From the ends of this bar pliable ladders E and E' are suspended from hooks, of which ladders the lower ends are secured to drums H, turned' The standards A A are surv rounded below the middle of their length by by cranks F F.

an iron band, Z, Fig. 2, securely bolted to them.

The band Z is bent at a rightangle away from A the pieces 1 2 3 in front 'and rear, to make room for ropes that are operated by the drums. At the middle, in front and rear of the piece 2, project from the band Ztrunnions m, that serve as axes on which the standards rest when v standing, or are leaned back when not in use, or inclined', as .the case may be.

Fig. 4 represents a hook, B', provided with a drum, n, that is mounted in its prongs, the hook being fastened to the upper end of piece 2 and raised to a window-sill, where it is held. Over the drums n and n passes au endless pliable ladder. The drum a', turned by a crank, is made adjustable by means of the screws p on the stand, to tighten the ladder or loosen it.

Fig. 5 shows the hook B when raised and secured to the cornice of a building. the ends of the cross-bar D are pulleys, over which, from one to the other, a rope passes, of which the ends are fastened to baskets K, on the bottoms of which the ends of another rope are attached, that passes over similar pulleys supported in a frame, g', made adjustable by screws p. v

Near y Fig. 3 represents the fire-escape placed upon a truck, ready for a removal.

The fire-escape is operated in the following IOO down, lie on their sides, and when raised from this posit-ion face toward the side of the truck. The object of this arrangement is to be near the building to which ladders are to be applied wheuthe truck arrives, without iirst having to turn it before commencing operation. In narrow streets or lanes it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to turn a truck around; hence the fire-escape would become useless, or much time be lost in changing its position, to be successfully operated. The detached pieces-such as hooks, ladders, baskets, &c.-are secured on the truck, that when needed all are accessible for immediate use. rPhe truck, with the fire-escape, being stopped close to the building on lire, a hook has to be selected according to the necessity of the inoment, and secured to the upper end of the piece 2. XVhen lad-ders are required, sections of them a-re joined to suit the height to which they are to be raised, passed over the pulleys n, n', and adjusted by the screws p. rllhe hook B', Fig. 4, when arrived at the proper height, by turning the crank C, is passed over a window-sill, when persons may readily escape from the building by stepping onto the ladder from the Window under which the ladder is suspended.

In case that womenA or children, who are too timid to make use of the ladder, are to be saved, hook B, Fig. 5, ought to be selected,

by which baskets K, that are not only reproof, but also a protection against flames,

are raised to the windows or the cornice of a building.

On occasions when stationary ladders would prove most useful, hook B, Fig. 1, from the cross-piece of which depend ladders, should be used.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a fire-escape, the combination of the two outer standards, 1 3, the central standard, 2, the ropes r/ r/ g, which are secured to the lower ends of the standards and to the pulley d ef, guiding-pnlleys, and adetachable hook, B,vhaving a cross-piece secured thereto, substantially as shown.

2. In a fire-escape, the combination of the three vertically-movable pieces l 2 3 and a mechanism for raising and lowering them, the hook, the cross-piece, and suitable means applied to the cross-piece for raising and lowering persons and things, substantially as shown.

3. The combination of the hook, the crosspiece provided with pulleys, an endless rope or chain having baskets secured thereto, and a tightening mechanism on the ground for guiding and stretching the rope while in use, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHAN STEIN VENDER.

Ti tnesses:

LoUIs Monsnn, J. E. IIIRSCII. 

